Basketball shares division title
The 2021-22 LaGrange College men’s basketball team notched another successful season. The Panthers were 16-11 overall and captured a share of the USA South’s West Division with a 10-2 conference record. Seniors Kyle Brown and Bershard Edwards, along with junior Zac Hill, were the team leaders. Brown was a first-team All-Conference and West Division selection. Nick Mitchell was the last Panther named first team All-Conference in 2015. A senior forward from Dallas, Georgia, Brown led the team in scoring (17.7 points per game), rebounding (7.5 rebounds per game), steals (36) and blocks (20). He was second on the team in field-goal percentage (54.1), minutes played (923) and assists (93). Edwards was on the West Division first team. He was second in scoring, averaging 15.4 points per game. Edwards led the team in minutes played (923), free-throw percentage (82.5, 33-of-40) and assists (104). He is the first Panther to have over 100 assists in a season in the program’s NCAA era. Hill was third on the team in scoring, averaging 12.2 points per game and second in rebounding, averaging 5.8 rebounds per game. He tied for second with 32 steals and is second with 16 blocks “The Big Three! Bershard, Kyle and Zac have meant so much to this team and program—not only this season but since day one of joining us,” said Coach Kendal Wallace. “I am very proud of all three of them and the contributions they have given for us to be successful.” The Panthers won their final five games of the regular season to finish in a three-way tie with Covenant and Maryville for the division title. Included in the five-game win streak was a 101-98 overtime win at then No. 11 Maryville. Brown had a double-double of 25 points and 10 rebounds to spark the Panthers. LC defeated Maryville for a second time in the quarterfinals of the USA South Tournament, 65-62. Edwards had a team-high 20 points. LaGrange’s season ended with an 81-77 double overtime loss to eventual tournament champion Averett in the semifinals. Brown and Edwards both played the entire 50 minutes and combined for 48 points in their final LC game. “What a great game and great season. Every team in the country except one will feel like we do right now at some point,” Coach Wallace said afterwards. “I’m so proud of my team. They battled the toughest teams in the South throughout the season from Division I to Division III.”
PANTHER POINTS MEN’S BASKETBALL See story on this page.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL The Panthers finished the season 15-10 overall and 10-5 in the USA South. Junior Gracie Brunel and senior Jalaya Lewis were selected to USA South All-Conference teams. Brunel was on the West Division first team, while Lewis was named to the second team. Brunel averaged a team-high 16.8 points per game. She also led the team with 63 steals, the fifth most in the program’s history. Lewis was second only to Brunel in scoring, averaging 12.3 points per game. She had a team-high 68 assists. BASEBALL See the feature story on pages 12-14. BEACH VOLLEYBALL The Panthers played 14 matches under first-year head coach Moneshia McKenney. Team members were Vianca Colon-Gonzalez, Jaharia Harris, Bailey Moss, Kinleigh Collins, Carmen Hamilton and Hayleigh Sebaugh. GOLF The LaGrange Golf team had its first spring season under new Head Coach Shannon Lipham. The Panthers finished seventh at the USA South Men’s Golf Championship. Senior Jay Adams was an Honorable Mention selection on the USA South All-Conference team. MEN’S LACROSSE The Panthers played their first full season after two pandemicabbreviated ones. Coach Brandon 15
